Love is All There Is: Your Local Valentine's Day Cheat Sheet
You don’t need to be a poet to feel the effects of love – the heart racing anticipation, the deep affection and overwhelming gratitude for finding the capacity to feel so deeply. Love is, indeed, all there is.
Express the depths of your affection this Valentine’s Day without purchasing from a box store or gifting yet another generic box of chocolates. Tell your sweetheart your love is unique like a snowflake: you can’t package it or it will melt.
Read on to find inspirational and memorable experiences and gift ideas that say I love you.
Skate Beneath the Stars
Picture you and your love gliding beneath the stars on a ribbon of ice that winds through a snowy forest. Talk about romantic! Pack a thermos of coffee or hot chocolate and head to the Laurentian Valley Skate Trail in Pembroke or the Beckwith Skate Trail in Lanark County and skate until your toes are cold and your cheeks hurt from smiling.
Ride on a Sleigh Made for Two
Cozy up with a sleigh ride in a sled made for two, for a swoon-worthy romantic winter adventure. In Hastings County, local operator, Cecil Andrus and his team of Belgian horses take guests to a secluded forest glen where couples can warm up by the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and are left together to bask in the romance of the moment. Talk about an #Instaworthy romantic experience! By appointment only - contact 613-332-5423 to book.
Find Sweets for Your Sweet
Anyone can buy a box of chocolates from the grocery store or drug store, but not everyone will think of seeking out artisan and local chocolate makers who are working their velvety chocolate craft close to home. Find melt-in-your-mouth rich and delicious chocolate products at I Like Chocolate or try J.J.’s Chocolate Sensations’ hand-dipped Belgian chocolate creations in milk, dark, and white chocolate.
In Perth, the Perth Chocolate Works crafts delectable truffles and other chocolate products using the Belgian Callebaut chocolate. For dark chocolate lovers, the award-winning Hummingbird Chocolate Maker in Almonte is crafting delectable bars using fair trade and ethically sourced chocolate with unique flavour combinations. Nearby, Fine Chocolates by Ludwig invites you to savour their smooth, rich chocolate bars.
If you like your chocolate to be beautifully crafted in unusual shapes and designs, Clayton Creative Chocolates will wow your significant other! Their beautiful chocolates are almost too pretty to eat!
Embark on a Romantic Adventure
Embrace a sense of adventure by purchasing one of Unexpected Journey’s curated romantic local itineraries. You and your partner will love the spontaneity of letting someone else take over the decision making, and you’ll forge new bonds as your discover new spaces and places together.
Cozy up in a Love Nest
Check into a retreat made for couples and bask in the romance you’ll find there. Imagine a quiet, woodland retreat for two where you can rediscover exactly why you fell in love in the first place. At Black River Retreat in Hastings County you and your partner will be the only guests with your own private chef.
Heather Lodge in Haliburton Highlands is exclusively for couples and has created a cozy nest to discover (or rediscover) your true love. Wander their forested trails by day, warm up in the sauna, then end your day with a chef-prepared meal from the on-site restaurant overlooking Twelve Mile Lake.
Gift Made-with-Love Desserts
Don’t pick up a cake or cupcakes from the grocery store – beautifully decorated baked goods are like a work of art, and the perfect gift to inspire true love. Gift a box filled with artistically decorated cupcakes from Cupcakes by Jen in Stirling for a unique (and delicious) gift idea. 7th Heaven Sweets in Pembroke sells decadent, exquisitely decorated cupcakes, macaroons, cakes, and sweet treats that are so beautiful it will almost be a shame to eat them. If cakes aren’t your love’s favourite, pick up some of Hidden Goldmine Bakery’s famous buttertarts for a sweet and decadent alternative.
